Canada completes the re-evaluation of Tebuconazole and its associated end-use products

Date:11-21-2024

Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, all registered pesticides must be re-evaluated by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to ensure that they meet current health and environmental standards and have value. The re-evaluation considers data and information from pesticide manufacturers, published scientific reports and other regulatory agencies, as well as comments received during public consultations. Health Canada applies internationally accepted risk assessment methods as well as current risk management approaches and policies. More details, on the legislative framework, risk assessment and risk management approach, are provided under the Evaluation Approach Section of the full version of Re-evaluation decision RVD2024-09, Tebuconazole and its associated end-use products.

Tebuconazole is a systemic fungicide registered for foliar uses (including large field crops, asparagus, and turf), seed treatments, and as a heavy-duty wood preservative. The joinery wood use was assessed separately (RVD2017-06, Re-evaluation Decision for Joinery Use of Tebuconazole) and is not included in the current re-evaluation decision.

Currently registered products containing tebuconazole can be found in the Pesticide Product Information Database and in Appendix I. The Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2021-08, Tebuconazole and Its Associated End-use Products containing the evaluation of tebuconazole and proposed decision, underwent a 90 day consultation period ending on 21 October 2021. PRVD2021-08 proposed continued registration of tebuconazole and all associated end-use products provided new risk mitigation measures are put in place. The proposed mitigation measures included increased personal protective equipment and engineering controls, restricted-entry intervals for agricultural products, reduction of the total seasonal application rate for turf, precautionary environmental label statements and spray buffer zones.

Health Canada received comments (and information) relating to the health, environmental and value assessments. Commenters are listed in Appendix II of RVD2024-09. These comments are summarized in Appendix III of RVD2024-09 along with the responses by Health Canada. These comments and new data/information resulted in revisions to the human health and, environmental risk and value assessments (see Science evaluation update of RVD2024-09), and resulted in changes to the proposed re-evaluation decision described in PRVD2021-08.

A reference list of information used as the basis for the proposed re-evaluation decision is included in PRVD2021-08, and further information used in the re-evaluation decision (RVD2024-09) is listed in Appendix X of RVD2024-09. Therefore, the complete reference list of all information used in this final re-evaluation decision includes both the information set out in PRVD2021-08 and the information set out in Appendix X of RVD2024-09.

This document (RVD2024-09) presents the final decision for the re-evaluation of tebuconazole, including the required amendments (risk mitigation measures) to protect human health and the environment, as well as label amendments required to bring labels to current standards. All products containing tebuconazole that are registered in Canada are subject to this re-evaluation decision. As discussed above, the exception to this decision are products containing tebuconazole registered for joinery wood use.

Re-evaluation decision for tebuconazole

Health Canada has completed the re-evaluation of tebuconazole. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada has completed all required evaluations and consultations and has determined that the registration of products containing tebuconazole is required to be amended, in accordance with paragraph 21(2)(a) of the Pest Control Products Act. An evaluation of available scientific information respecting the health and environmental risks and value of tebuconazole found that certain uses of tebuconazole products meet current standards for protection of human health and the environment and have acceptable value when used according to the amended conditions of registration which includes new mitigation measures. However, all turf uses of tebuconazole are cancelled as risks due to exposure from drinking water were not shown to be acceptable when used according to the current conditions of registration, or when additional mitigation is considered. Label amendments, as summarized below and listed in Appendix IX of RVD2024-09, are required.

Products containing tebuconazole cancelled as a result of re-evaluation¹

Learn more at Health Canada's website.